COFO assists dental and medical professionals in the many legal issues that arise in their practices. COFO’s over 140 years of cumulative attorney experience is unique in this practice area and allows COFO to provide our dental and medical clients the full range of legal services for their entire professional career.
Our dental and medical representation includes the transition of a professional practice, counsel regarding practice purchase agreements, corporate and partnership formation/dissolution, real estate acquisition and sale, leases, associate and employee agreements, and space sharing agreements, as well as consulting with client accountants to address parties' concerns and working closely with attorneys and practice brokers to complete the desired transaction and all other related matters.
We are committed to working closely with attorneys and practice brokers. We have the capacity to handle all of your near-term and long-term legal needs from simple transactions to dispute resolution, representation in complex litigation, trials, and even criminal defense.
With his over 20 years of experience helping hundreds of dental and medical professionals throughout California, Thomas P. O’Toole oversees COFO’s dental and medical practice group. Utilizing his vast legal and industry knowledge, as well as his industry connections, Mr. O’Toole assures top-notch service to his clients.
COFO’s dental and medical clients receive the strength, backing, and solid reputation of our established Downtown SF Law Firm, with the fee structure and personalized service of a local boutique law firm. To help our clients predict expenses, wherever possible, we provide our services for a fixed fee or within a predictable range.
COFO’s approach to providing legal services has always emphasized communication and transparency with straightforward and honest advice so our clients can make the best decisions for them and their practice. Our main goal is a smooth and successful client experience with minimal surprises.
With COFO as part of their team, our dental and medical clients have found a valuable business advisor on whom they can rely to expertly navigate any legal matters that may arise throughout their career.
Services We Offer
The process typically begins with a letter of intent and progresses to the preparation of a purchase and sale agreement, as well as negotiations between the parties to iron out the details. In the end, the transaction is usually completed through an escrow to assure the terms of closing (sometimes, including real estate) are completed and the funds and asset title(s) are properly exchanged.
Practice start-ups are sometimes a great path to ownership. As with any business, from the outset solid financial projections and proper legal planning and structure are critical to the success of a practice start-up.
The evaluation of entities – be it a sole proprietor, a corporation, or a partnership – and discussion of lease terms or real estate purchases are also important to both practice purchases and start-ups.
A sole proprietor is simply an unincorporated doctor practicing by himself or herself – no “official” documentation necessary. Alternatively, a doctor can choose to form and receive the benefits of a professional corporation, while being the sole shareholder or with multiple other shareholders. A written general partnership with other doctors will also allow a doctor to practice in a group setting with well-defined parameters for partners’ duties and obligations. Many configurations are possible.
Once the type of business entity is determined, COFO will prepare and file all of the appropriate documents and forms with the State of California.
It is important to have an attorney on your side who is able to get the landlord’s attention and diligently work to bring a lease assignment or new lease to fruition.
Office Purchase/Sale – Doctors often purchase the office condominium or building within which they run their practice. This can be a great investment in the future of the practice. Whether buying or selling real estate, we help with all aspects of the documentation and agreements necessary to complete the transaction. We work closely with the escrow/title company to make sure the transaction is successfully completed.
Office/Space Sharing – Sometimes, typically in geographical areas of higher rent, it makes economic sense for a practice to share space with another practice in a similar or complimentary specialty. In such instances, there are challenging issues to be addressed such as patient privacy, trade secrets, employees, restrictive covenants, and more.
A properly designed agreement between the practices will not only benefit and protect all practitioners but allow for a smooth transition should the practices decide to go their separate ways.
However, disputes occasionally escalate to the point where the advice and representation of an attorney is necessary. COFO’s litigation attorneys, with over 100 years of cumulative experience, are more than capable of providing solid client representation in resolving disputes through negotiation, mediation, arbitration, or litigation, as well as handling the occasional criminal matter.
While not always the most pleasant conversation to have, creating a legacy or estate plan is a true act of love toward your family and those about whom you care.
A plan is paramount to assuring your wishes are adhered to and carried out – whether a legacy plan for transferring real estate or business assets, or an estate plan to assure your end-of-life advice, desires, and assets become a blessing to those who receive them.
For those who are hesitant to embark on their plan, the good news is that once all of the nuances of the documents are worked out and your wishes are memorialized, the plan can be put aside in a safe place until a change of circumstances necessitates modification. If that change never occurs, then creating your plan can be a once-in-a-lifetime event after which you focus again on living your best life.
Throughout the years, Thomas P. O’Toole has developed productive working relationships with many experienced industry professionals. Mr. O’Toole has been able to introduce clients to these professionals for one-off advice or career long guidance.
Practice Brokers – A practice broker will perform many critical functions including: assisting sellers in determining maximum practice value, broad-based practice marketing, and “quarterbacking” practice sales and transitions.
Accountants – It is important to any successful practice to have a CPA who is familiar with dental or medical practice financial performance and associated tax matters.
Bankers/Lenders – Financial professionals experienced in dental and medical practice banking and lending typically mean smooth and timely loan approvals and funding, and provide necessary banking services for the life of the practice.
Practice Consultants – These consultants are crucial for helping sellers prepare a practice for sale, and for buyers optimizing post-purchase practice performance.
Title/Escrow Companies – The professional experience of escrow and title professionals will provide smooth and comprehensive closings for practice and real estate transactions.
Attorney Specialists – Sometimes it is necessary to obtain a referral to another attorney for areas of expertise (i.e., family law, bankruptcy, government agency law) or simply due to a client conflict of interest.
A well-rounded team is critical to practice success.